Postman wins cancer expenses fight

Lawyers for a postman with skin cancer who won a landmark battle for his medical expenses believe the case could open the way for other people who worked unprotected in the sun.

Ross Tulloch, 55, delivered mail in Cairns from 1989 to 1997. He wore Australia Post’s regulation motorcyclists’ helmet, which does not include a sun visor. A melanoma was removed from his forehead, and smaller skin cancers from his right cheek and the left side of his head.An emotional Mr Tulloch said he feared further sun exposure could lead to secondary skin cancer and even death.Mr Tulloch, who now works as a night mail sorter, said Australia Post had refused to pay him for the two days he took off to have the skin cancers removed.He took his case to the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Cairns. Australia POst agreed to settle before the hearing began.His lawyer, Peter Koutsoukis, said: “We belive this is the first time in Australia (an employer) has actually admitted liability for a condition like this related to sun exposure.”(Source: The West Australian; Saturday 23rd August 2003)